Volume_29_Issue_3

Preservation & Progress Volume 29, Issue 3 9 LITTLE ROUND TOP In May, park and Foundation staff met with DHM Design, a firm doing value engineering for the Little Round Top project. The project’s goals are to enhance traffic flows and pedestrian safety, limit landscape degradation, improve visitor experiences, and provide limited, additional parking. The estimated cost is $9.8 million, with Gettysburg Foundation committed to providing up to $5 million in matching funds and federal funding for the rest. The projected timeline is to present a final alternative and drawings to the National Development Advisory Board (DAB) in November 2018. The project will go to federal contracting in July 2019, provided it is 1) approved by DAB; 2) has a signed Finding of No Significant Impact; and 3) and all funding is secured. Construction could begin in fall of 2019. THE “AMERICA’S BEST IDEA” PHOTO EXHIBIT The exhibit opened in June, featuring 38 spectacular images captured by renowned landscape photographer, Stan Jorstad, along with four images of the Gettysburg and Eisenhower parks. The power of this exhibit is in the collection of photographs as a whole which show the rich diversity of our parks from sea to shining sea. Come take a look. They’ll be on display at the Museum and Visitor Center through November 19. MAINTENANCE PROJECTS Our biggest projects this summer include: monument repairs with financial help from Gettysburg Foundation and Gettysburg Battlefield Protection Association; and repointing 25 percent of the National Cemetery stone wall and removing the “Incralac” coating (used in the past to protect bronze but now considered harmful to historic statuary) on the High Water Mark monument with the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center. The structures preservation branch is repairing roofs on the Leister barn and three bank barns at the Eisenhower Site. We are also repairing the Groft/Spangler barn at East Cavalry battlefield. With the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center we are continuing with major structural and exterior repairs at the Josiah Benner barn. The landscape preservation branch is replacing pasture fences around the Patterson farm, replacing woven wire fences at Eisenhower, and repairing most of the historic bridges on the Gettysburg battlefield. REBUILDING HISTORIC STONE WALLS This summer we are rebuilding stone walls on the battlefield in three areas: along Emmitsburg Road south of the Peach orchard; along the Slyder Farm lane; and along Taneytown Road. An eight-person work crew from the American Conservation Experience (ACE) program will do the work under park supervision. The ACE program helps eliminate backlogs and engages young adults in conservation experiences with the NPS. COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY TRAILS PLAN & POWERS HILL/SPANGLER FARM TRAIL: These trail proposals are still delayed pending a review by the NPS regional office. IMPROVING VISITOR ACCESS TO EISENHOWER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE: The site is continuing to prepare for the on-going planning process for the Visitor Use Management Plan. The development of alternatives is planned for fall of 2018. In mid-July we bid farewell to Chris Stein who was Acting Superintendent at GETT and EISE for 120 days. We thank Chris for his service here and wish him well as he returns to his regular duties in the NPS Midwest Regional office. Deputy Superintendent Tom Forsyth is on detail to Big Bend National Park as Superintendent. Ed Clark is still on an acting assignment to the NPS Northeast Regional Office. We hope you’ll come visit the two parks here in Gettysburg soon. Thank you again for your continuing support through the Friends of Gettysburg. National Park photo exhibit at GETT. ACE crew working on Frey/ Biggs stone wall, July 2018.